Being crowned Miss World 2000 and moving on to establish a successful career as a leading Bollywood actress are two accomplishments that would make most women feel prideful. For Priyanka Chopra however, it is her newly appointed status as India’s national green ambassador that makes her feel especially elated. The 28 year old will now be the face behind national eco-themed campaigns designed to spread awareness of various ongoing issues such as tiger conservation and Ganga river clean up efforts.

At the beginning of the 20th century, as many as 40,000 Bengal tigers were believed to be living in India, but that figure has plunged to roughly 800 due to tourism, poaching, and habitat encroachment. Similarly, the religiously significant Ganges river has succumbed to an extreme level of pollution brought on by industrial exploitation, highly infectious human waste and the ashes of cremated loved ones.

Priyanka believes that in addition to consistently addressing the two major eco-concerns mentioned above, the public can make a positive impact by taking small daily actions such as refraining from littering. She hopes that her new role as green ambassador successfully shifts the mindset of India’s 1.15 billion residents, so future generations will still be able to enjoy the simple pleasure of picnicking in gardens and taking hikes in the forest.